One of the joys of the York city walls at this time of year is the carpets of daffodils on the banks below them.
The planting of bulbs here has a long history. It was started in the early 1800's by Backhouse Nurseries, an early garden centre located just inside the city walls by Queen Street. They planted daffodils outside the city walls at that point, to advertise their business. The site was bought by York's first railway company & used for the city's first railway station. Backhouse moved to a greenfield site elsewhere, but left their daffodils behind.
Much more recently, in the 1960s, groups of school children from a number of York schools planted daffodils around the whole circuit of the walls. Different parts of the walls see their daffodils bloom at different times, depending how much sunlight they get and the variety of bulbs planted.
This section, between the railway station and Lendal Bridge, is the last to see the daffodils flower.
Behind the city walls in this shot is the Grand Hotel, which was York's first 5 star hotel. It started life as the headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, and some of the railway features still exist in the hotel.
How lovely! I have sorted daffodils in the garden but they haven't bloomed except one or two. The weather is too hot for them I think. Next year I will dig them up and try another location.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I was amused by Jessika's comment about the flag, above the hotel name. The blue flag has a white rose at the centre, and is the flag of Yorkshire. In recent years it has become an increasingly common sight, and along with the increasing popularity of Yorkshire Day on 1st August and the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, the identity of the county of Yorkshire has been strengthened.
amazing to plant so many daffodils, must be marvellous to see
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I was amused by Jessika's comment about the flag, above the hotel name. The blue flag has a white rose at the centre, and is the flag of Yorkshire. In recent years it has become an increasingly common sight, and along with the increasing popularity of Yorkshire Day on 1st August and the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, the identity of the county of Yorkshire has been strengthened.
Ian
I stand corrected. I really should explain my terms more clearly!
Ian
Thank you Vesna, it is a lovely view while sitting waiting for a bus home!
Ian